Earnings of material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations vary somewhat by occupation and industry. The range of median hourly earnings in 2002 is shown in the following tabulation:
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks | $16.18 |
| Cargo and freight agents | 15.10 |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance | 14.56 |
| Meter readers, utilities | 13.86 |
| Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers | 13.30 |
| Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping | 11.62 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks | 11.26 |
| Couriers and messengers | 9.32 |
| Stock clerks and order fillers | 9.26 |
| All other material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers | 12.45 |
Workers in material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations usually receive the same benefits as most other workers. If uniforms are required, employers generally provide them or offer an allowance to purchase them.
The sections that follow provide more information on cargo and freight agents; couriers and messengers; dispatchers; meter readers, utilities; production, planning, and expediting clerks; shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks; stock clerks and order fillers; and weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers.
Workers in this group are responsible for a variety of communications, recordkeeping, and scheduling operations. Typically, they coordinate, expedite, and track orders for personnel, materials, and equipment.
Cargo and freight agents route and track cargo and freight shipments, whether from airline, train, or truck terminals or from shipping docks. They keep records of any missing or damaged items and any excess supplies. The agents sort cargo according to its destination and separate items that cannot be packed together. They also coordinate payment schedules with customers and arrange for the pickup or delivery of freight.
Couriers and messengers deliver letters, important business documents, or packages within a firm to other businesses or to customers. They usually keep records of deliveries and sometimes obtain the recipient’s signature. Couriers and messengers travel by car, van, or bicycle, or even by foot when making nearby deliveries.
Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service. Duties vary with the needs of the employer. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety dispatchers, handle calls from people reporting crimes, fires, and medical emergencies. Truck, bus, and train dispatchers schedule and coordinate the movement of these vehicles to ensure that they arrive at the appointed time. Taxicab dispatchers relay requests for cabs to individual drivers, tow-truck dispatchers take calls for emergency road service, and utility company dispatchers handle calls related to utility and telephone service. Courier and messenger service dispatchers route drivers, riders, and walkers around a (usually urban) designated area. They distribute work by radio, e-mail, or phone, making sure that service deadlines are met.
Meter readers read meters and record the consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam. They serve a variety of consumers and travel along designated routes to track consumption. Although numerous meters still are read at the house or building that receives the utility’s service, many newer meters can be read remotely from a central point. Meter readers also look for evidence of unauthorized utility usage.
Production, planning, and expediting clerks coordinate and expedite the flow of information, work, and materials, usually according to a production or work schedule. They gather information for reports on the progress of work and on production problems. They also may schedule workers or shipments of parts, estimate costs, and keep inventories of materials.
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks track all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred among businesses, suppliers, and customers. These clerks may be required to lift cartons of various sizes. Shipping clerks assemble, address, stamp, and ship merchandise or materials. Receiving clerks unpack, verify, and record information on incoming merchandise. Traffic clerks record the destination, weight, and cost of all incoming and outgoing shipments. In a small company, one clerk may perform all of these tasks. (Postal Service workers sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service. While these workers are classified as material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers and are included in the estimate of employment for this occupational group, they are discussed in detail elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Stock clerks and order fillers receive, unpack, and store materials and equipment, and maintain and distribute inventories. In wholesale and retail establishments, inventories may include merchandise; in other kinds of organizations, inventory may include equipment, supplies, or materials. In small firms, stock clerks and order fillers may perform all of the preceding tasks, as well as those usually handled by shipping and receiving clerks. In large establishments, stock clerks and order fillers may be responsible for only one task.
Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers check and record the weight and measurement of various materials and equipment. They use scales, measuring and counting devices, and calculators to compare weights, measurements, or other specifications against bills or invoices. They also prepare reports on inventory levels.
(This introductory section is followed by sections that provide more detail on cargo and freight agents; couriers and messengers; dispatchers; utility meter readers; production, planning, and expediting clerks; shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks; stock clerks and order fillers; and weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers.)
.Overall employment of material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers is expected to show little or no change through 2012. However, numerous job openings will arise each year from the need to replace workers who leave this very large occupational group.
Projected employment growth varies by detailed occupation. Meter readers will experience a decline in employment due to automated meter reading systems that greatly increase productivity. New technologies will enable stock clerks and order fillers to handle more stock, resulting in declining employment in this occupation as well. The use of e-mail and fax will contribute to slow growth for couriers and messengers. Employment of shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks also will grow more slowly than average due to the increasing use of automated devices and systems that enable these workers to handle materials and shipments more efficiently and more accurately.
Employment of dispatchers; production, planning, and expediting clerks; weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers; and cargo and freight agents is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012. Population growth, as well as an expanded role for dispatchers stemming from advances in telecommunications, should boost employment levels. Employment of production, planning, and expediting clerks and cargo and freight agents should benefit from more emphasis on efficiency in the production and shipping processes, while a growing need for accurate inventory records should spur employment of weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers.
.Many material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations are at the entry level and do not require more than a high school diploma. Employers, however, prefer to hire those familiar with computers and other electronic office and business equipment. Applicants who have taken business courses or have previous business, dispatching, or specific job-related experience may be preferred. Because communication with other people is an integral part of some jobs in the occupation, good oral and written communications skills are essential. Typing, filing, recordkeeping, and other clerical skills also are important.
State or local government civil-service regulations usually govern police, fire, emergency medical, and ambulance dispatching jobs. Candidates for these positions may have to pass written, oral, and performance tests. Also, they may be asked to attend training classes and attain the proper certification in order to qualify for advancement.
Workers usually develop the necessary skills on the job. Dispatchers usually require the most extensive training. Working with an experienced dispatcher, they monitor calls and learn how to operate a variety of communications equipment, including telephones, radios, and various wireless devices. As trainees gain confidence, they begin to handle calls themselves. In smaller operations, dispatchers sometimes act as customer service representatives, processing orders. Many public safetydispatchers also participate in structured training programs sponsored by their employer. Increasingly, public safety dispatchers receive training in stress and crisis management, as well as family counseling.
Communication skills and the ability to work under pressure are important personal qualities for dispatchers. Residency in the city or county of employment frequently is required for public safety dispatchers. Dispatchers in transportation industries must be able to deal with sudden influxes of shipments and disruptions of shipping schedules caused by bad weather, road construction, or accidents.
Although there are no mandatory licensing or certification requirements, some States require that public safety dispatchers possess a certificate to work on a State network, such as the Police Information Network.
Couriers and messengers usually learn on the job, training with a veteran for a short time. Those who work as independent contractors for a messenger or delivery service may be required to have a valid driver’s license, a registered and inspected vehicle, a good driving record, and insurance coverage. A good knowledge of the geographic area in which they travel, as well as a good sense of direction, also are important.
Utility meter readers usually work with a more experienced meter reader until they feel comfortable doing the job on their own. They learn how to read the meters and determine the consumption rate. They also must learn the route that they need to travel in order to read all their customers’ meters.
Production, planning, and expediting clerks; weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers; stock clerks and order fillers; and shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks usually learn the job by doing routine tasks under close supervision. They learn how to count and mark stock, and then they start keeping records and taking inventory. Production, planning, and expediting clerks must learn both how their company operates and the company’s priorities before they can begin to write production and work schedules efficiently. Training in the use of automated equipment usually is done informally, on the job. As these occupations become more automated, however, workers in them may need longer periods of training in order to master the use of the equipment.
Advancement opportunities for material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers vary with the place of employment. Dispatchers who work for private firms, which usually are small, will find few opportunities for advancement. In contrast, public safety dispatchers may become a shift or divisional supervisor or chief of communications, or they may move to higher paying administrative jobs.
These people look after inventories and schedule workers to ensure the smooth handling of production. Parts clerks sell parts to the public in retail and wholesale stores, or issue supplies to staff in large companies, repair shops, hospitals and the armed forces. Production clerks estimate the amount of materials and labour required for small projects, and they schedule production runs in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner. Working Conditions Workers in this occupational group work in a wide range of settings. This concentration of numbers will affect the average figures for the group overall, so individual occupation figures will be quoted where they differ significantly from the occupational average.
Summary of: http://www.workfutures.bc.ca/profiles/profile.cfm?print=true&lang=en&noc=147&site=graphic
They keep records of items entering or leaving the stock room and inspect damaged or spoiled goods. In smaller firms, they may also perform tasks usually handled by shipping and receiving clerks. Working Conditions Working conditions vary considerably by occupation and employment setting. The work of dispatchers can be very hectic when many calls come in at the same time. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Many material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations are entry level and do not require more than a high school diploma.
Summary of: http://guide.symplicity.com/resources/profession_article.php?id=173
They are responsible for making guests feel comfortable and welcome. They check guests in, assign their rooms, and issue room keys. In small hotels, clerks give guests directions to their rooms and tell them where to park. Work ActivitiesThe following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100103
They keep records, logs, and schedules of the calls they receive, the transportation vehicles they monitor and control, and the actions they take. Many dispatchers employ computer-aided dispatch systems to accomplish these tasks. Dispatchers, or call takers, often are the first people the public contacts when emergency assistance is required. If certified for emergency medical services, the dispatcher may provide medical instruction to those on the scene of the emergency until the medical staff arrives. In many areas, the police department serves as the communications center.
Summary of: http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/admin28.shtml
Workers develop the necessary skills through on-the-job training lasting from several days to a few months; dispatchers usually require the most extensive training. Back to Top Nature of the Work Stock clerks and order fillers receive, unpack, check, store, and track merchandise or materials. They also may be required to lift cartons of various sizes. In smaller firms, they also may perform tasks usually handled by shipping and receiving clerks. couriers and messengers spend most of their time alone, making deliveries, and usually are not closely supervised.
Summary of: http://www.careeroink.com/career-reference/ooh/level4.asp?id=87
Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service. Stock clerks receive, unpack, store, issue, and maintain an inventory. In small firms, they may perform all of the above tasks, as well as those usually handled by shipping and receiving clerks. Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks keep track of all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred between businesses, suppliers, and customers. Working Conditions Working conditions vary considerably by occupation and employment setting.
Summary of: http://www2.jobtrak.com/help_manuals/outlook/ocos137.html
Workers develop the necessary skills through on-the-job training lasting from several days to a few months; dispatchers usually require the most extensive training. They also coordinate payment schedules with customers and arrange for the pickup or delivery of freight. Production, planning, and expediting clerks coordinate and expedite the flow of information, work, and materials, usually according to a production or work schedule. Stock clerks and order fillers receive, unpack, and store materials and equipment, and maintain and distribute inventories. couriers and messengers spend most of their time alone, making deliveries, and usually are not closely supervised.
Summary of: http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/admin25.shtml
Typically, they coordinate, expedite, and track orders for personnel, materials, and equipment. Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service. Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks track all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred between businesses, suppliers, and customers. Stock clerks receive, unpack, and store materials and equipment, and maintain and distribute inventories. Meter readers, for example, spend a good portion of their workday traveling around communities and neighborhoods taking readings, either directly or with remote reading equipment.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20002001/301.htm
Nature of the Work Workers in this group are responsible for a variety of communications, recordkeeping, and scheduling operations. Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service. Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks track all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred between businesses, suppliers, and customers. Stock clerks receive, unpack, and store materials and equipment, and maintain and distribute inventories. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Many material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations are entry level and do not require more than a high school diploma.
Summary of: http://guide.symplicity.com/resources/profession_article.php?id=170
Hotel and motel desk clerks are a guest's first contact for check-in, check-out, and other services. Receptionists are often a visitor's or caller's first contact within an organization, providing information and routing calls. Reservation and transportation ticket agents, as well as travel clerks, assist the public in making travel plans, reservations, and purchasing tickets for a variety of transportation services. Most information clerks use office equipment such as multiline telephones, fax machines, and personal computers in their work. With the exception of airline reservation and transportation ticket agents, orientation and training for information clerks generally takes place on the job.
Summary of: http://www2.jobtrak.com/help_manuals/outlook/ocos131.html